ON THEIR TOES: Oklahoma State focused on avoiding upset

Thursday

(TNS) — Oklahoma State doesn’t play TCU for another month. Still, Cowboys coaches are stressing the Horned Frogs this week, ahead of Saturday’s game at Kansas.

Why TCU?

The Frogs had to pull out a tight 24-23 verdict at Kansas, a game the Jayhawks were in position to win, if not for three missed field goals in the fourth quarter.

KU hasn’t won since a season-opening win over Rhode Island, standing 1-5 overall and 0-3 in the Big 12.

That close call with TCU, however, is being sold as an attention-getter to the Cowboys, who will enter the game as a three-touchdown-plus favorite.

“I think you can watch the tape of people who have played up there and had a better team than what the public thought, for example TCU,” said Cowboys coach Mike Gundy. “I would guess that they probably didn’t play as well as they had wanted to.

“The other area is when you watch teams play across the country and you see teams that people think are much better than others, and at the end of the game it’s either a close score or they didn’t win. We try to use those as examples.”

The Jayhawks are in a second year under coach David Beaty, who inherited a mess. Since 2008, KU is 4-60 in conference games, with two wins over Iowa State and one each against Colorado and West Virginia.

In Beaty’s debut a year ago, the Jayhawks finished 0-12.

“We’re just going up there to play another football game,” said OSU linebacker Devante Averette. “You know, face this opponent and just continue to do what we have to do no matter what the jersey says. We prepare like we have to prepare for Baylor or if we were playing Alabama.”

Among KU Regrets: Too Many Turnovers

If a blowout point spread isn’t enough to paint predictions for Saturday in Lawrence, there’s one trend defining both teams.

Turnovers.

While the Jayhawks’ 22 giveaways are the most in all of FBS, OSU’s 13 turnovers gained are tied for No. 28 nationally. The Cowboys have also scored two touchdowns off turnovers.

“So we have to do a much better job in that area, knowing that these guys are turnover machines defensively,” Beaty said.

KU has thrown at least one interception in every game and 12 total, against just 10 touchdown passes, of which six came in the win over lower level Rhode Island.

The Cowboys have collected at least one turnover in every game.

“Every week you talk about those opportunities,” said OSU defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer. “When they happen you have to make the most of it. (The Jayhawks) have had issues with that, and I’m always on the side of they’re getting that corrected. They’re stressing that and seeing why they can’t do that. They’re trying to get those things corrected.

“Our challenge is to go for that ball. If they give you that opportunity, you strip it. It’s no different than what we’ve ever done.”

Quotable

Beaty on Cowboys receiver James Washington:

“One of the more dynamic players in the conference… You just flip on the Texas game alone, he makes a couple of plays in that game that are just ridiculous. He should have been tackled two or three times in a couple of those plays and somehow he stays on his feet and goes the distance against some really good players.”

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